Support

A cookie is a piece of data stored by your browser or device that helps websites like this one recognize return visitors. We use cookies to give you the best experience on BNA.com. Some cookies are also necessary for the technical operation of our website. If you continue browsing, you agree to this site’s use of cookies.

Marketing Services

Bloomberg Next marketing services allow clients to elevate their brands and extend their reach through our established and trusted expertise, enhanced with engaging event production, appealing design, and compelling messaging.

Partnerships — Current and Liquidating Distributions; Death or Retirement of a Partner (Portfolio 811)

Tax Management Portfolio No. 811-2nd, Partnerships—Current and Liquidating Distributions; Death or Retirement of a Partner, provides a detailed discussion of the tax consequences of distributions by partnerships to partners, including those arising from distributions of a partner's share of the results of partnership operations, and other distributions by the partnership that do not result in termination of the distributee's interest in the partnership even though accompanied by a change in the distributee's and remaining partners' shares of capital or profits and losses, whether in money or property—all called current distributions—and distributions of money or property on the withdrawal of a partner whether on death or withdrawal—called liquidating distributions.

This Portfolio is available with a subscription to Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting, a comprehensive research solution including over 500 Tax Management Portfolios, practice tools, primary sources and timely news.

Description

Tax Management Portfolio No. 811-2nd, Partnerships—Current and Liquidating Distributions; Death or Retirement of a Partner, provides a detailed discussion of the tax consequences of distributions by partnerships to partners, including those arising from distributions of a partner's share of the results of partnership operations, and other distributions by the partnership that do not result in termination of the distributee's interest in the partnership even though accompanied by a change in the distributee's and remaining partners' shares of capital or profits and losses, whether in money or property—all called current distributions—and distributions of money or property on the withdrawal of a partner whether on death or withdrawal—called liquidating distributions. Liquidating distributions may be accompanied by other retirement payments that do not represent consideration for the withdrawing partner's interest in partnership property, and may be deferred compensation, or other claims against past or future partnership income. When the withdrawal is a result of death, there may be other collateral income and transfer tax consequences. Distributions, usually liquidating distributions, are important components of major partnership restructurings, including divisions, mergers, incorporations, and changes in legal form. As with all other aspects of partnership taxation, the dual nature of a partnership for tax purposes—as at times an aggregation of its partners, and at times an entity—complicates the discussion, particularly because no one, including the author, has been able to articulate a comprehensive statement of when the aggregate, and when the entity, aspect should predominate. Further complication arises because the “tax” partnership includes not only entities organized as general partnerships or limited partnerships (“LP”) under state law, but also the newer forms of limited liability partnerships (“LLP”), initially primarily for professionals, and the increasingly popular limited liability company (“LLC”). The newer forms, particularly the LLC, have many more entity characteristics, particularly when full advantage of the freedom to contract that is part of the latest revisions of the governing statutes in most commercial states is taken into account, so that it is hard to distinguish them from corporations. All but the traditional general partnership have limited liability, and a general partnership can, in most states, achieve limited liability by a simple filing to become an LLP, but, particularly for professionals that limited liability protects against vicarious liability but not against liability for one's own malpractice, including, of course malpractice in giving advice related to partnership tax matters. All but the general partnership can also have continuity of life, centralized management and free transferability of interest, subject only to the usual practical problems of transferring interests in closely held businesses. Even the general partnership can achieve most of these characteristics by a carefully drafted partnership agreement. Nevertheless, Subchapter K has not been amended to recognize these changes. Despite these factors, the Check-the-Box regulations, Regs. §§301.7701-2 and -3, recognize partnership as the default tax classification for all domestic entities that are not organized as corporations or joint stock companies, or engaged in certain regulated businesses like banking and insurance. A number of problems have emerged, particularly for LLCs treated as disregarded entities, including a controversial decision by the IRS to treat the disregarded entity as the one responsible for payroll taxes for its employees, and questions about the status of recourse liabilities of a disregarded entity, particularly one that owns a partnership interest. This Portfolio analyzes not only the relevant statutory and regulatory materials, but also the large body of case law, revenue rulings, and other IRS pronouncements, including technical advice memoranda and private letter rulings, that are all part of this, unfortunately complex, body of tax law. Part I, Introduction, briefly discusses important general principles not directly related to distributions, but that will nevertheless frequently be referred to throughout the Portfolio, including partnership capital accounts, §704(c) and reverse §704(c) allocations. Part I then addresses the vexing question of distinguishing a partner withdrawal from sale of a partnership interest (which are considered in more detail in 718 T.M. Partnerships—Disposition of Partnership Interests or Partnership Business; Partnership Termination). Part I concludes with a brief discussion of the general anti-abuse regulations. Part II discusses the principles applicable to all distributions—current and liquidating—including distinguishing between them—and the general principles for nonrecognition of gain or loss on distributions of partnership property in kind, and the effect of partnership liability shifts as part of distributions. Part III deals with the specific tax consequences of current distributions, including the basis of distributed property, the effects on the outside basis of the distributee partner's interest of money and property distributions, and the effects on the inside basis of the partnership's assets of in-kind distributions, as well as the effects of §751 to recharacterize non-pro rata distributions by partnerships that have §751 property and other property as taxable exchanges instead of nonrecognition distributions. The tax consequences of liquidating distributions are discussed in Part IV, including the different rules for the basis of distributed property, and the effect on the partnership's inside basis of gain or loss recognized by the distributee partner. Finally, Part V analyzes §736, which characterizes partnership payments made to a retiring partner or the successors of a deceased partner, dividing them between those that are liquidating distributions allocable to the retiring or deceased partner's interest in the partnership (including goodwill and similar intangibles) that are governed by the principles discussed in Part IV, and any other withdrawal payments, which are classified as either distributive share payments, with their character determined by the allocable share of partnership income, or guaranteed payments, which are ordinary income to the distributee without regard to partnership income, depending on whether their amount is determined by partnership income or not, and are, in effect, deductible (or excludible) by the partnership (remaining partners). It also addresses estate and income tax considerations relevant to a deceased partner's successors, other than those involving §736. For a discussion of related federal tax rules applied to partnerships, see 710 T.M., Partnerships—Conceptual Overview; 711 T.M., Partnerships—Formation and Contributions of Property or Services ; 712 T.M., Partnerships—Taxable Income; Allocation of Distributive Shares Capital Accounts; 714 T.M., Partnerships—Allocation of Liabilities; Basis Rules; 718 T.M., Partnerships—Disposition of Partnership Interests or Partnership Business; Partnership Termination; and 720 T.M., Partnership Transactions—Section 751 Property. For a discussion of the specific tax issues related to limited liability companies, see 725 T.M., Limited Liability Companies. For a discussion of the specific tax issues raised by foreign partners or foreign partnerships, see 910 T.M., Partners and Partnerships—International Aspects (Foreign Income Series). This Portfolio may be cited as Manning, 811-2nd T.M., Partnerships—Current and Liquidating Distributions; Death or Retirement of a Partner.

All Bloomberg BNA treatises are available on standing order, which ensures you will always receive the most current edition of the book or supplement of the title you have ordered from Bloomberg BNA’s book division. As soon as a new supplement or edition is published (usually annually) for a title you’ve previously purchased and requested to be placed on standing order, we’ll ship it to you to review for 30 days without any obligation. During this period, you can either (a) honor the invoice and receive a 5% discount (in addition to any other discounts you may qualify for) off the then-current price of the update, plus shipping and handling or (b) return the book(s), in which case, your invoice will be cancelled upon receipt of the book(s). Call us for a prepaid UPS label for your return. It’s as simple and easy as that. Most importantly, standing orders mean you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you’re relying on. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.960.1220 or by sending an email to books@bna.com.

Put me on standing order at a 5% discount off list price of all future updates, in addition to any other discounts I may quality for. (Returnable within 30 days.)

Notify me when updates are available (No standing order will be created).

This Bloomberg BNA report is available on standing order, which ensures you will all receive the latest edition. This report is updated annually and we will send you the latest edition once it has been published. By signing up for standing order you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you need. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.372.1033, option 5, or by sending us an email to research@bna.com.

Put me on standing order

Notify me when new releases are available (no standing order will be created)